The target countries are all actively modernising and adapting their respective legislation. New and/or modified legislation is, however, not enough to comply with the demands imposed by the rule of law. This also requires the correct application and enforcement of legislation in the area of civil, administrative and penal law. In many of the areas considerable improvements have to be made in the target countries. Enforcement of legislation in the area of economic and environmental law are among the specific topics dealt with during the training because these areas of legislation still need improving. Legislation can only be effectively applied and enforced if it was properly designed, paying attention to the aspects of applicability and enforceability through regulatory impact asssesments. Once adopted, evaluations need to tell whether legislation brings about desired effects and works efficiently. Those involved in the process of creating the said legislation need to have the necessary knowledge, skills and competences to do so. In many of the target countries there is still work to be done in this area. The active participation of stakeholders in the process of the creation of legislation is vital for the acceptance, quality, applicability and enforceability of legislation. In many of the target countries this important part of the legislative process merits improvement.

Training programme

The course is characterised by interaction and a practical approach. The training is composed of three complementary elements. During lectures the theoretical part concerning instruments available to the government, the (im) possibilities of use thereof, the improvement of the quality of legislation, participation in legislative procedures and the application and enforcement thereof are explained. The second, practical, component existing of study visits demonstrates how high quality legislation is devised, applied and enforced in the Netherlands. Participants visit Dutch organisations and institutions involved in the various stages of this process. These qualities are not yet fully developed in the target countries. The third component, the development and furthering of personal skills and competences by discussion and group activities, complements the knowledge gained throughout the theoretical and practical part of the training.

Target group

Senior civil servants, public prosecutors and officers employed by the national Ministries of Justice/(semi) governmental organisations and charged with the development of new legislation and improving the quality of existing legislation, and/or with the organisation and supervision of the applicability and/or enforceability of legislation in their respective countries.